Electric valve translating system



June 17, 1941. E, MOYER 2,245,869

ELECTRIC VALVE TRANSLATING SYSTEM Original Filed Sept. 50, 1938 Imvefitor": Eimo E. M0861", b k/wcfx/ 9 His Attorney.

Patented June 17, 1941 ELECTRIC VALVE TRAN SLATING SYSTEM Elmo E. Moyer, Scotia, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a. corporation of New York Original application September 30, 1938, Serial No. 232,599. 'Divided and this application Dcccmber 20, 1939, Serial No. 310,209

Claims.

My invention relates to electric valve means and more particularly to electric valve translating apparatus for energizing a plurality of direct current load circuits.

This application is a division of my copending patent application Serial No. 232,599 filed September 30, 1938, patented July 23, 1940, No. 2,209,232, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

Frequently, it is desirable to energize load circuits, such as a plurality of direct current load circuits, from a polyphase alternating current supply circuit. In accordance with the teachings of my invention described hereinafter, I provide new and improved electric valve apparatus for energizing direct current load circuits from a polyphase alternating current sup-ply circuit and which imposes only balanced and distributed loads on the alternating current supply circuit.

It is an object of my invention to provide new and improved electric valve translating apparatus.

It is another object of my invention to provide a new and improved electric valve circuit for energizing a plurality of direct current load circuits from a polyphase alternating current supply circuit and which imposes distributed and balanced loads on the various phases of the supply circuit.

In accordance with one feature of the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I provide an improved electric valve translating circuit for energizing a plurality of direct current circuits difierent in number, as for example, less in number than the number of phases of the alternating current circuit whereby the load imposed on the alternating current circuit is evenly distributed. More specifically, I provide a Scottoonnected transformer for energizing a pair of direct current circuits from, a three-phase alternating current circuit through electric valve means. The electric valve means are controlled in accordance with a predetermined condition of electrical apparatus which is controlled by the direct current circuits.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. The single figure of the accompanying drawing diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of my invention as applied to an electric valve translating and regulating system for energizing the field windings of a pair of parallel connected alternating current generators or synchronous condensers.

Referring now to the single figure of the accompanyingdrawing, I have chosen to show my invention as applied to an electric valve translating system associated with a plurality of machines, such as a pair of alternating current dynamo electric machines I and 2 which may be alternating current generators or synchronous condensers. The machines I and 2 are preferably designed to be electrically similar, that is, the machines I and 2 are designed to have substantially identical electrical constants and characteristics. Machines l and 2 are provided with armature windings 3 and 4, respectively, which are connected to an associated polyphase circuit such as a three-phase alternating current circuit 5. Machines I and 2 are also provided with independent field or excitation windings 6 and 1, respectively, having only one common terminal of the same polarity.

I provide an electric translating system including a suitable phase transforming means, such as a Scott-connected or a T-connected transformer 8, which is connected to the alternating current circuit 5 and which efiects an even distribution of load on circuit 5. Transformer 8 comprises primary windings 9 and independent secondary windings i0 and It having isolated neutral or intermediate connections l2 and I3, respectively. Unidirectional current is transmitted to field winding 6 from excitation Winding l0 through suitable rectifying means such as a pair of electric valve means I4 and I5, and unidirectional current is transmitted to the field winding 1 from secondary winding ll through electric valves l5 and IT. The electric valves 16 and I! are preferably of the type employing an ionizable medium, such as a gas or vapor, and each may comprise an anode !8, a cathode l9, and a control member or grid 20. If desired, the electric valves M to I? may also be provided with a shield grid 2| which may be connected to the associated cathode I9.

I provide a single control or regulating circuit 22 which controls the resu tant voltage impressed on the control grids 20 of electric valves M to l! in accordance with a predetermined electrical condition such as the armature voltage of machines I and 2, or in accordance with an electrical condition such as the voltage of the alternating current circuit 5. I provide a phase transforming means such as a transformer 23 which is arranged in a Scott-connection or a T-connection for impressing on the control grids 20 of electric valves I4 to I! alternating voltages being displaced in phase in a lagging direction relative to the anode-cathode voltages by substantially 90 electrical degrees. Transformer 23 includes primary windings 24 and a pair of secondary windings 25 and 26. Secondary windings 25 and 2B are connected to afford an electrical, neutral connection 21.

As an agency for superimposing on the alternating grid voltages a unidirectional voltage which varies in accordance with an electrical condition of machines I and 2, such as the armature voltage of these machines, I provide a circuit 28. Certain features of the circuit 28' are described and claimed in my copending apdegrees. A Variable unidirectional component of 'voltage is supplied by resistance 29 of circuit 28. The conductivity of the electric valve 30 is varied plication Serial No. 271,297 filed May 2, .1939, which is a division of copending patent applica-.

tion Serial No. 232,599 and which is also assigned to the assignee of the present application. Circuit 28 may be of the bridge type having a pair of branches, one of which includes a suitable impedance element, such as a resistance 29, through which there is transmitted variable amounts of unidirectional current to control the resultant voltage appearingacross its terminals and hence, to control the resultant voltage impressed on the control grids of electric valves I4 to I1. -An electric valve 30, which is preferably of the high vacuum type, transmits variable amounts of unidirectional current through resistance 29 and hence, controls the voltage appearing across the terminals of resistance 29. The electric valve 30 may include an anode 3|, a cathode 32, a control grid 33, a screen -grid-34, and a suppressor grid 35. The control grid 33 is connected to a point of suitable potential such as'that provided by a voltagedivider 36 having an adjustable contact or tap 31. A suitable current limiting resistance 38 maybe connected in series relation with the control grid 33, if desired. The screen grid 34 is connected to a point of suitable potential, such as point 39 of a voltage divider comprising a pair of serially connected resistances 40 and M which constitute the other branch of the bridge. Resistances 40 and 4! are also connected in series relation with a suitable constant voltage device, such as an electric valve 42 of the glow discharge type. The resultant unidirectional voltage impressed on the control grids 20 is obtained from the lower'terminal of resistance 29 and the common juncture 40a of resistances 40 and ll through an output circuit 28' which is connected to neutral 21 and the cathodes IQ of electric valves I4--II.

Circuit 23 also includes a circuit 43 which produces a unidirectional voltage of the polarity indicated and the magnitude of which varies in accordance with the armature voltage of machines I and 2 or the voltage of circuit 5. Circuit 43 may be a bi-phase rectifier and may comprise a transformer 44 which is connected to circuit 5, a suitable rectifying device such as an electric valve 45, and a filter circuit comprising capacitances 4B and 41 and an inductance 48.

The operation of the embodiment of my invention may be explained by considering the system when the machines I and 2 are operating in parallel as synchronous alternating current generators transmitting energy to the alternating current supply circuit 5. Variable amounts of unidirectional current are transmitted to the field windings 6 and I of machines I and 2 through electric valves I4, I5, and I6, I! from secondary windings III and II respectively. The resultant voltages impressed on the control grids in response to the voltage of circuit 5. The potential of .the control grid 33 and the potential of the screen grid 34 both vary in response to the magnitude of the unidirectional voltage furnished by transformer 44, rectifier 45, and the filter circuit including capacitances 46 and 41 and inductance 48. By virtue of the fact that the potentials of both the control grid andthe screen grid vary in accordance with the condition to be regulated, the amplification of the electric valve 30 will be large and hence, the sensitivity of the regulating system will be relatively great. If the voltage of the alternating current circuit 5 tends to rise above the predetermined value with respect to the standard voltage established by electric valve 42, the resultant unidirectional voltage drop appearing across the resistance 29 will decrease, eifecting a retardation in phase of the resultant voltage impressed onthe control grids 2B of the electric valves I4 to H thereby causing the electric valves to conduct a smaller amount of current and conse: quently, effecting a reduction in the voltage generated by machines I and 2. Conversely, if the voltageof circuit 5 decreases below the value to be maintained, the voltage appearing across the resultant unidirectional voltage will increase, effecting an increase in the field current trans.- mitted. to windings B and I. 4 i

Referring more particularly to the operation of the circuit 28, the .glow discharge valve. 42 serves to maintain a predetermined constant voltage so that the cathode 32 of the electric valve 30 is maintained at a substantially constant potential relative to the negative terminal of the output circuit of rectifier 43. In addition, the glow discharge valve 42 also serves to effect an increased amplification by the electric valve 30 by placing the entire increment or decrement of the voltage of the output circuit of rectifier 43 on the control grid 34. As the output voltage of circuit 43 changes, the entire change in voltage is impressed on the grid.34 and this change in potential acting conjointly with the changein potential impressed on the control grid 43 effects a substantial change in the current transmitted through resistance 29 to effect more precise control of the electric valves I l-I7.

Inasmuch as the field windings 6 and I of the means I and 2 are energized througha Scottconnected transformer the load imposed on the alternating current circuit 5 is evenly distributed. Of course, it will" be understood that if these field windings were energized separately from' single phase transformers connected to the circuit 5, the load imposed on the circuit 5 will be concentrated on two phases of that circuit whereas in the embodiment illustrated the load is evenly distributed. It is to be understood that while I have shown my invention as applied to an electric valve translating system for energizing two direct current circuits from a three-phase alternating current circuit, my invention may be applied to a system in which a plurality of direct current circuits are energized from an associated alternating current circuit having a number of phases greater than the number of direct current circuits.

An important feature of the embodiment of my invention described above is the facility with which a plurality of valves of intermediate current rating may be used to supply the field current for a number of machines. An additional important feature is the arrangement which permits the utilization of a single voltage controlling or regulating circuit for controlling the resultant voltages impressed on the control members of a plurality of electric valves which energize field windings of electrical machines operating in parallel.

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to a particular system of connections and as embodying various devices diagrammatically shown, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention, and I, therefore, aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my inverition.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In combination, a polyphase alternating cur; rent circuit, a plurality of direct current load circuits of a number different than the number of phases of said alternating current circuit, said direct current load circuits each having only one common terminal of the same polarity, transforming means connected to said alternating current circuit for producing a number of circuits equal in number to the number of said direct current load circuits, electric valve means connected between said transforming means and said direct current load circuits, and means responsive to a predetermined controlling influence for controlling symmetrically the energization of said plurality of direct current load circuits.

2. In combination, a polyphase alternating current circuit, a plurality of direct current load circuits of a number less than the number of phases of said alternating current circuit, and having only one common terminal of the same polarity, transforming means connected to said alternating current circuit for producing a number of circuits less than the number of phases of said alternating current circuit, electric valve means connected between said lastmentioned circuits and said direct current load circuits, and. means energized from said alternating current circuit for symmetrically controlling the conductivities of said electric valve means.

3. In combination, a polyphase alternating current circuit, a plurality of direct current load circuits of a number less than a number of phases of said alternating current circuit and having only one common terminal of the same polarity, transforming means connected to said alternating current circuit for producing a number of circuits less than the number of phases of said alternating current circuit, a plurality of electric valve means interposed between said lastmentioned circuits and a different one of said direct current circuits, said electric valve means having a control member for controlling the conductivity thereof, a circuit for energizing said control member comprising phase transforming means connected to said alternating current circuit for impressing on said control member an alternating voltage having a predetermined phase displacement relative to the voltages applied to said electric valve means, and means responsive to an electrical condition of one phase of said alternating current circuit for symmetrically controlling the energization of said direct current load circuits.

4. In combination, a polyphase alternating current circuit, a plurality of direct current circuits of a number less than a number of phases of said alternating current circuit, transforming means connected to said alternating current circuit for producing a number of circuits less than the number of phases of said alternating current circuit, electric valve means interposed between said last-mentioned circuits and a diiIerent one of said direct current circuits, and means operative in accordance with the energization of said direct current circuit and responsive to an operating condition of said last-mentioned means for controlling said electric valve means.

5. A three-phase alternating current circuit, a pair of direct current circuits, a Scott-connected transformer having a pair of secondary Windings for producing voltages in quadrature, electric valve means connected between each of said secondary windings and said direct current circuits, means operative in accordance with the energization of said direct current circuits, and means responsive to an operating condition of said lastmentioned means for controlling said electric valve means.

ELMO E. MOYER. 

